
Book ^Msi 

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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



Young Women 



A HISTORY 



AMERICAN COMMITTEE OF 
YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS 



BY 

Rebecca F. Morse 



Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, 

saith the Lord of hosts." 

— Zech. iv. 6. 



Published b\ 

The American Committee of Young Women's Christian Associations 

1 312 Champlain Building, 126 State Street 



THE LIBRARY OF 

CONGRESS, 
Two Cohm Receded 

MAY. 8 1901 

COPVWCHT EHTRV 

CLASS <5^XXc. N«r. 

copy a 



Copyright 1901 
By Rebecca F. Morse 



+$) 



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3 



It is a pleasure to dedicate 

this History of the 

American Committee of Young Women's Christian Associations 

to the first Chairman of the National Committee, 

Mrs. John V. Farwell, Jr. 

To whose faithful administration of her office 
the Association owes much of its prosperity. 



PREFATORY NOTE 

The requests for a history of our National Young 
Women's Christian Association have come from so 
many directions and so repeatedly that the American 
Committee has decided to issue such a publication. In 
compliance with its wish, I have gathered and put 
together the facts. My desire and effort have been that 
these facts should be absolutely accurate and that the 
relation of them should convey a faithfully true impres- 
sion. Great care has therefore been taken to consult 
the early and late reports and records of the American 
Committee and also the reports of other organizations 
wherever reference to them and their history has been 
necessary. Mr. Luther D. Wishard has manifested 
great interest in the work and has rendered valuable 
assistance in kindly furnishing me information in regard 
to the early days of the organization, in which he had 
so large a share. 

It is my hope that the story of our beginnings and 
development in the Association work, and its present 
condition, may serve to encourage renewed zeal and 
may testify that throughout the fourteen years of our 
national existence the "good hand of our God has been 
upon us." 

Rebecca F. Morse. 





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vi riH 


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Camp Collie, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. 



Young Women 



i. 



BEGINNINGS 



" With affectionate interest we look back to the 
beginnings of those things which possess our alle- 
giance as established powers, or are daily enjoyed as 
familiar blessings. The comparison of the state of 
commencement with the ideal state, brings with it 
a natural pleasure, in marking the tendencies and 
the tokens of all that has happened since." 



The origin of an organization is of the first 
importance in the record of its history. A clear 
understanding of the circumstances and consid- 
erations which led to its existence is essential 
to a correct appreciation of its place and value 
in the world. 

The American organization of Young Women's ° ri s in in 

.... 1 Student 

Christian Associations — now known under the 



Institutions. 



name of the "American Committee of Young 
Women's Christian Associations" — was the 
result of a movement among students. A few 
isolated colleges, independently of each other, 
and even in some cases without knowledge of 



8 YOUNG WOMEN 

other similar societies among young women stu- 
dents, formed Young Women's Christian Asso- 
ciations in the period between 1873 and 1877. 
Of these the first one was organized in 1873 in 
the State Normal School, Normal, Illinois. 

During the years between 1877 and 1882 Mr. 
Luther D. Wishard, intercollegiate secretary of 
the Young Men's Christian Association, was 
engaged in the work of organizing Young Men's 
Christian Associations in colleges throughout 
the country. In the co-educational colleges of 
the West both young men and young women 
were received into the membership of the asso- 
ciation, the article on membership reading 
"Students," without distinction of sex, the 
object being to prevent a division in the Chris- 
tian work of the college. The young women 
students, through this plan, shared in the advan- 
tages derived from the agencies of supervision, 
development and extension, provided by the 
strongly organized and well equipped Inter- 
national Committee of Young Men's Christian 
Associations. They benefited by the visitation 
of the international and state secretaries, and 
the correspondence and publications of the 
International Committee. They attended also 
the state and international conventions, and 
took part in the discussions. Under this united 
arrangement the part of the young women was 
largely that of assistance in the work of the 



BEGINNINGS 9 

young men students. That special work by 
young women for young women, which they 
can best accomplish by and among themselves 
in Young Women's Christian Associations, was 
not promoted. Neither was the similarly dis- 
tinctive work of the Young Men's Christian 
Association, a work by young men for young 
men, advanced by this arrangement. The gen- 
eral sentiment of the association movement 
was opposed to its continuance. The young 
men's associations in the co-educational col- 
leges were accordingly reorganized and a con- 
stitution adopted, admitting men only into the 
membership. As a result of this step Young 
Women's Christian Associations began to be 
formed in the colleges, Mr. Wishard advising 
and helping in their organization. Since these 
young women's associations could not be offi- 
cially supervised by the International Commit- 
tee of Young Men's Christian Associations, Mr. 
Wishard was authorized to work in conjunction 
with a committee of three ladies, which, he was 
informed, had been appointed by the Inter- 
national Conference of Women's Christian Asso- 
ciations to encourage the formation of Young 
Women's Christian Associations in American 
colleges and seminaries. 

The Conference of Women's Christian Associ- 
ations had originated in a gathering of socie- 
ties at the annual meeting of the Hartford 



10 YOUNG WOMEN 

Women's Christian Association in 1871. About 
seven societies were represented by delegates, 
and twenty-three by letters. They met at the 
invitation of the Hartford association, for 
prayer and conference concerning their work. 
These societies, the oldest of which was the 
Ladies' Christian Union of Xew York (1858), 
had been formed independently in different 
cities, and had been called forth by some Chris- 
tian or philanthropic work needed in their own 
community, in some cases for women, some- 
times for other classes. Earnest, active women, 
making it their responsibility to meet the need 
in each case, formed themselves into a society 
to carry on the work. The National Confer- 
ence was held biennially, and in 1ST 5, other 
countries being represented, the name of Inter- 
national Conference of Women's Christian 
Associations was adopted and retained until 
October, 1891. 

A cordial interest was felt by the Young 
Men's Christian Association in this inter- 
national movement. It was watched by 
them with fraternal sympathy and earnest 
desire that it might prosper and become the 
wide-spread blessing to women that their own 
association had proved to men. They knew 
that an important element in the success of the 
Young Men's Christian Associations lay in the 
strong organization of their international work 



BEGINNINGS 11 

on a uniform basis of membership which closely 
allied them to the Evangelical church, together 
with an ample provision for international devel- 
opment and extension. They saw in this con- 
ference opportunity for Women's Christian 
Associations to so organize as to do a similar 
strong work among women and to reap a simi- 
lar success. In several instances the reports 
of the individual Women's Christian Associa- 
tions testified to the help rendered them in 
their organization by the Young Men's Chris- 
tian Associations or by individual members of 
that organization. Mr. H. Thane Miller, for 
many years president of the Cincinnati Young 
Men's Christian Association, had rendered 
much of this kind of help in the large cities of 
the West and in Philadelphia in the East. At 
the early conferences of the Women's Christian 
Associations he was a welcome guest and 
speaker. This led him in 1875 to take a step, 
the wisdom of which some have questioned. 
On his way from the East to attend the Women's 
Conference at Pittsburg in 1875, he stopped in 
New York, sought and obtained the consent of 
the International Committee of Young Men's 
Christian Associations that its general secre- 
tary, Mr. R. C. Morse, should accompany him 
to Pittsburg and cooperate with him in pre- 
senting to the delegates a statement which Mr. 
Miller had prepared of the nature, rules and 



12 YOUNG WOMEN 

methods of the international organization of 
the Young Men's Christian Association. The 
secretary accompanied Mr. Miller, and attended 
with him the opening meeting of the confer- 
ence, leaving him to explain to the officers and 
members more fully the nature of the work and 
administration which the printed suggestion 
submitted by Mr. Miller and himself had out- 
lined. A committee was appointed by the 
Women's Christian Association Conference to 
consider the proposed constitution. Dis- 
cussion on this committee's report led to 
postponement of decision until the following 
— the Fourth International Conference held 
in Montreal in 1877, when a constitution was 
adopted which practically confined the inter- 
national work of the Women's Christian Asso- 
ciations to the international biennial conference 
and arrangements for its conduct, and this 
continued to be the form of organization until 
October, 1891. 

In the biennial conference held at St. Louis 
in 1881, the committee of three ladies, Mrs. 
Thane Miller being chairman, was appointed 
to encourage the formation of associations in 
colleges and seminaries, and in 1883 it became 
a standing committee. 

In consultation with Mrs. Miller, Mr. Wishard 
prepared a circular to the young women stu- 
dents, together with a form of constitution, both 



BEGINNINGS 13 

issued in 1883 in the name of the International 
Conference of Women's Christian Associations, 
but printed by and at the expense of the Inter- 
national Committee of Young Men's Christian 
Associations. The constitution recommended 
was formed with the Evangelical basis of active 
membership, and conformed in all other 
respects as well, to the one used in the college 
Young Men's Christian Associations — the one 
under which the young women had already 
been organized as a part of the association. 

Mr. Wishard performed his work so thor- Eighty to 

-1-1-11 -i ^^ -i^^ Ninety Younj 

oughly that between the years 1881 and 1885 women's 
the young women students in from eighty to christian 

- Associations 

ninety associations were organized separately organized. 
in Young Women's Christian Associations, side 
by side with those of the young men, on the 
same basis, in accordance with the constitution 
recommended, with similar objects and work 
and pursuing similar methods. These associa- 
tions were instructed to look to Mrs. H. Thane 
Miller as their correspondent. Had there been 
at this time, back of the correspondence and 
work thus carried on by Mrs. Miller, a strong 
organization, with a membership through which 
the student associations, after they had entered, 
could have received the help they needed 
for development and extension, they would 
undoubtedly have applied for admission into 
such a membership, and would have become an 



14 YOUNG WOMEN 

integral part of such an organization. But the 
constitution adopted by the fourth international 
conference of Women's Christian Associations 
in Montreal, 1877, had not made provision for 
such an organization. Consequently the Young 
Women's Christian Associations in the col- 
leges continued to depend partly on the Young 
Men's Christian Associations and their agen- 
cies and also to develop independently and self - 
reliantly, with but little communication with 
the Women's Christian Associations. It is inter- 
esting to note this self-reliance as it is shown 
in the early state reports. 

A spirit of responsibility seems to have been 
felt by the members of the associations in these 
early days. They were more or less actuated 
in thus banding together in their Christian 
work by a sense of obligation to other young 
women — an obligation not confined to the mem- 
bers of their own local association, nor even to 
those non-Christian students in their own col- 
lege, in whom they felt a special interest. They 
had an appreciation of their broader privilege 
and duty of offering these advantages to the 
women in other colleges. This led them first 
to consider the needs of their own college, then 
of young women in other colleges, in the cities, 
the state, and afterwards the whole land. At 
the convention called to organize a state asso- 
ciation in Iowa, 1884, the young president thus 



BEGINNINGS 15 

simply expressed this sense of responsibility: 
"While we enjoy a Saviour's love, let us not 
forget the very many young women in our own 
state who do not know Him. Feeling this and 
that we needed to know more of Christ, that 
we needed each other's encouragement, associa- 
tion and prayers in our Christian work, quite a 
number of us young women from all parts of the 
state have banded ourselves together. We call 
our organization the Young Women's Christian 
Association of Iowa. Its one aim and purpose 
is to make the young women of Iowa active, 
earnest, devoted Christians. It proposes to do 
this through religious conversation, correspond- 
ence, Bible study and prayer. Its members to 
live so that the world will know we are Christ's 
followers. It is not a work outside of the church, 
but in the church, to bring others into the 
church." 

State organization was the natural result of 
the relation held to the Young Men's Associa- 
tion, and was effected through the help afforded 
by its secretaries. Nine state associations were 
thus formed between 1884 and 1886. They 
were Michigan, February, 1884; Ohio, spring 
of 1884; Iowa, November, 1884; Illinois and 
Wisconsin, January, 1885; Minnesota, Ne- 
braska, Kansas and Indiana, in 1885 and 1886. 

Added growth and organization brought in 
their train additional demands. Quite early in 



Nine State 
Associations 



16 YOUNG WOMEN 

the period of state organization came the call 
from cities for Young Women's Christian Asso- 
ciations to be organized on the same lines as 
those of the young men in the cities, and to be 
admitted into the Young Women's State Asso- 
ciations. Some of the state constitutions were 
amended so as to admit cities. This step, how- 
ever, involved responsibility which was felt to 
be too heavy for student associations to assume. 
Yet, in view of the opportunity opening to 
them of a far-reaching work for young women, 
if only it could be supported by Christian 
women firmly united in a strong and aggressive 
movement, they felt they should not draw back. 
Acting on the advice, therefore, of their friends 
and helpers, Mr. Wishard and the Interna- 
tional Committee of Young Men's Christian 
Associations, which had been in full sympathy 
with Mr. Wishard in his work among the 
young women students, they took the impor- 
tant step of appeal to the International Confer- 
ence of Women's Christian Associations assem- 
bled in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1885. This appeal 
was for their help and cooperation in forming 
a strong national organization for the develop- 
ment and extension of Young Women's Chris- 
tian Associations. 

Before the students made these overtures, 
however, information was sought concerning 
the character and work of the Women's 



BEGINNINGS 1? 

Christian Associations. The result did not 
appear to them promising- for the furtherance 
of their object. This was not because the stu- 
dents felt there was a lack of consecrated 
Christian service and valuable work on Chris- 
tian lines and lines of philanthropy in the indi- 
vidual Women's Christian Associations repre- 
sented in their International Conference. Nor 
was there any question in regard to the value 
of the International Conference itself, afford- 
ing, as it did, thoughtful, prayerful intercourse 
among the Women's Christian Associations, an 
intercourse which drew the delegates together 
and was of mutual benefit to themselves and to 
the associations, to which they returned with 
fresh strength and suggestion. But it was noted 
that thus far these conferences had not devel- 
oped a uniform, national membership nor a 
concentration of effort on behalf of young 
women exclusively, such as the college associa- 
tions desired to engage in, and such as they 
felt to be the work peculiarly and appropriately 
belonging to Young Women's Christian Asso- 
ciations. It was also noted that although some 
of the strongest of the individual Women's 
Christian Associations — either in their govern- 
ment or in their active membership — were on 
an Evangelical basis, yet there was no univer- 
sally adopted test of membership which affili- 
ated all the associations with the various Evan- 



18 YOUNG WOMEN 

g-elical churches — a test which had proved of 
invaluable service to the Young Men's Chris- 
tian Associations in the remarkable develop- 
ment of their work and efficiency, and which 
the young women felt to be essential to their 
own organization. 

To the student associations the discovery of 
these facts was disappointing, but they enter- 
tained the hope that the obstacles could be 
overcome. They thought that inasmuch as the 
Women's Christian Associations had no other 
organization than the biennial conference, they 
would heartily agree to form one. into which 
the student associations could be received and 
through which this definite work for young- 
women could be done. They did not anticipate, 
as a result of the desired consideration at the 
Cincinnati Conference, any decision leading to 
immediate, radical reconstruction of those 
Women's Associations which were not already 
working on these lines. They believed that 
the experience of the Young Men's Christian 
Associations would satisfy the leaders of the con- 
ference that the Evangelical basis of member- 
ship would be a wise one for newly organized 
associations, and would gradually commend 
itself to the entire organization as a basis which 
had proved a sufficiently broad foundation for 
the world-wide movement among young men. 

Of one point the student associations were 



BEGINNINGS 19 

not aware. It was the relation their own 
associations held to the conference of the 
Women's Christian Associations, in the estima- 
tion of the conference itself. In the Interna- 
tional Conference of Women's Christian Asso- 
ciations, held in Boston in 1883, the report of 
the Committee on Colleges and Seminaries, pre- 
sented by Mrs. Miller, was received, and much 
gratification was expressed at the large number 
of Young Women's Christian Associations 
organized. The facts concerning their origin 
within the organization of the college Young 
Men's Christian Association seem to have 
been hardly noted, though the circular issued 
by the conference in the first instance indi- 
cates a knowledge of these facts. Their sig- 
nificance was evidently not realized. The 
student associations were accepted as the work 
of the special committee appointed by their 
conference — a not unnatural conclusion, under 
the circumstances. Though thus regarded, 
however, no record of the college associations 
appears in the tabulated lists of the pub- 
lished conference reports of the Women's 
Christian Associations. The independent 
strength of the student associations and their 
state organizations were unknown to the con- 
ference until 1887. 

It was under these not altogether favorable Appeal for 

t ■ • 1 -ill • National 

conditions on either side that the representative Organization. 



Proposed 



20 YOUNG WOMEN 

company of student delegates and the Interna- 
tional Conference of Women's Christian Asso- 
ciations met at Cincinnati in October, 1885. 
The committee appointed by the colleges was 
the bearer of greetings to the conference and 
resolutions adopted at their state conventions of 
1884 and 1885, by the seven state associations 
then existing. These resolutions expressed 
sympathy with the work for young women 
which the Women's Christian Associations were 
doing and a desire to unite with them in form- 
ing an international organization, asking them 
to consider as a basis: — 
Basis i. As the object of the organization: The 
promotion of the physical, social, mental and 
spiritual welfare of young women. 

2. An active membership which should affili- 
ate the organization with the Evangelical 
church. 

3. A permanent executive committee to 
oversee and develop the work. 

A paper had also been prepared to accom- 
pany the resolutions, stating the need felt by 
the student associations of such an interna- 
tional association. 

The delegates were received most cordiallv 
at Cincinnati as apart of the conference, repre- 
senting individual college associations. As such, 
reports of their work were asked for and 
received with gratification. Their message as 



BEGINNINGS 21 

the representative committee from the state 
conventions was not known to the body of the 
conference. The prominent and influential 
leaders to whom it was presented privately, dis- 
cussed the matter with the committee and 
urgently advised that it should not be pre- 
sented to the body of the conference. Their 
reasons given were that the question of a 
national organization had already, some time 
before, been discussed and decided satisfac- 
torily to itself by the conference, and that this 
present conference was an especially unfavora- 
ble one for such a proposition for various rea- 
sons, one being that a number of the delegates 
would be opposed to the Evangelical basis of 
membership, and the warmest advocates of the 
union would therefore not be willing to support 
the proposal at this time. 

Finding that this was the attitude of the lead- 
ing delegates, the committee of students did 
not bring the matter before the body of the 
conference. They returned a report of the 
failure of their mission to the State Executive 
Committees of the College Associations, add- 
ing a recommendation that "as it seems neces- 
sary that there be a national organization," a 
Young Women's Christian Association Con- 
vention be held in the summer of 1886 to form 
one on the plan of that proposed to the leaders 
of the Cincinnati Conference. 



22 YOUNG WOMEN 

The first National Convention of the Young 
"Women's Christian Associations was accord- 
ingly called for organization at Camp Collie, 
Lake Geneva, "Wisconsin, August 6-12, 1886. 
National Nineteen delegates were present, representing 

Organization . 1 . . . . .. 

Effected. e] ght state associations. A national organiza- 
tion was effected and a constitution adopted 
with the Evangelical basis of membership. 

Greetings of congratulation were received 
from the "two hundred and ninety-eight col- 
lege students " assembled in the Young Men's 
Christian Association Summer Bible Confer- 
ence at Mount Hermon, Massachusetts. 
National Chicago was selected as the headquarters of 
and National the National Committee. Mrs. John V. Far- 
Secretary. well, Jr., was elected chairman, and Mrs. W. 
W. Van Arsdale, secretary. In November, 
1886, Miss Nettie Dunn, an alumna of Hills- 
dale College, Michigan, was called to the posi- 
tion of National Secretarv. 



II. 



DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION 

The National Young Women's Christian 
Association was now fairly launched, and the 
committee began its work under the favoring 
conditions of a marked loyalty in its constitu- 
ency, an earnestly prayerful spirit among the 
association members and a deepening sense of 
responsibility for the extension of the associa- 
tion among all young women. The demand 
for this extension into cities had already been 
made upon some of the existing state associa- 
tions. Cities where state conventions were 
held became interested and desired a similar 
work for young women in their midst, and this 
desire, fostered and guided by the State and 
National Secretaries, led to organized associa- 
tions. The better to secure uniformity of organ- 
ization, the National Committee prepared and 
published a form of constitution for the help of 
city associations, recommending its adoption 
by those cities about to organize. A new state 
constitution was also recommended, better 
adapted to the states as they were now admit- 
ting city associations to membership. 



YOUNG WOMEN 



The 
Evangel. 



2\ 



national paper, the Young Women s Chris- 
tian Association Quarterly, started in 1888, 
became in 1889 the monthly publication of 
the National Committee, under the name of 
the Evangel, and was issued at first during ten 
months, subsequently in every month of the 
year. 

The visits of the National Secretary, hei 
wise counsel and spiritual instruction, were 
eagerly sought by the individual associations. 
Her valuable help was deemed indispensable 
in state organization and conventions. As 
counselor to the National Committee and at 
the same time medium of contact between 
them and their associations, she was called 
upon to be frequently at headquarters, and yet 
to give an even larger proportion of time and 
energy to the development and extension of 
associations in colleges, cities and states. 
Although alone in a new work, with a vast ter- 
ritory as her field, obliged to make for herself 
an entirely new experience, the young secre- 
tary, with untiring and unselfish devotion, 
bravely and faithfully performed this pioneer 
work. During more than two years Miss Dunn 
was the only National Secretary. In this time 
state associations were strengthened, new ones 
organized, a beginning made in the state sec- 
retaryship, and student and city associations 
were added to the national organization 



DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION 27 

The organization of the Student Volunteer Connection 

r t-> • ™- -.1 -it with Student 

Movement for Foreign Missions had resulted volunteer 
from the memorable missionary meetings Movement for 

J . . Foreign 

among the College Young Men's Christian Missions. 
Associations assembled at Mount Hermon, 
Massachusetts, in the summer of 1886, fol- 
lowed by the visits of Mr. Wilder and Mr. For- 
man among the colleges. Men and women 
students alike became student volunteers, 
avowing their purpose to become foreign mis- 
sionaries unless providentially hindered. The 
movement was in charge of a committee of 
three, representing the Intercollegiate Young 
Men's and the National Young Women's 
Christian Associations and the Inter-Seminary 
Alliance. Of the Young Women's Association, 
Miss Dunn, herself a volunteer, was appointed 
the representative in 1889. In her visitation 
among the colleges, she was ever mindful of 
this Volunteer Movement, and through her 
own enthusiasm and missionary spirit, was the 
means of bringing many to the same high 
resolve. 

In 1889 two secretaries were added to the Three 

• tit- /"\ 1-irrr International 

national secretarial force, Miss Corabel Tarr, secretaries. 
as associate with Miss Dunn and Miss Thirsa 
Hall, whose province lay in the important 
charge of the office work and business detail of 
the growing organization. The impetus given 
to the work through this addition to the secre- 



2S YOUNG WOMEN 

tarial force was soon felt. Parts of the country 
which had not hitherto been touched were vis- 
ited in 1890 and 1891 and important organiza- 
tion was effected. Through the admission 
of a few associations in the British Provinces 
the National had already been for some time an 
International Association. A visit from Miss 
Tarr to Canada resulted in an increased mem- 
bership of the British associations and a Cana- 
dian delegation to the International Conven- 
tion in 1891. Thus the bond with Canada 
was strengthened. The Pacific Coast was care- 
fully studied. An extensive correspondence 
resulted in visitation and the organization of 
the Pacific Coast Association. The possibili- 
ties of extension into Colorado and into the 
Southern states were also investigated at this 
time. 

Reviewing the work of the nine months pre- 
ceding the Scranton International Convention 
in 1891, Miss Tarr says in her report: "As I 
turn from the summary of the past crowded 
nine months I cannot refrain from looking into 
the same number of future years with great 
thanksgiving by faith. A future is before us 
which means unthought-of possibility, requir- 
ing much wise and systematic planning, more 
earnest, active work, not only from a few" sec- 
retaries, but from a large force of volunteer 
workers, a constant strengthening- Q f founda- 



DEVELOPMENT AXD EXTENSION 29 

tion principles — a steadfast faith that God will 
use our faithfulness to glorify His name among 
the young women of the world." 

The numerical growth of the organization as Numerical 
reported at the Scranton Convention in 1891 mis9i. 
was : — 

Growth in associations: — 

College and city, . . . (18S6), 93; (1S91), 242 

State associations, ..." 9 " 13 

Secretaries, international, " 1 " 3 

" state, ..." o " 10 

city, ..." o " 15 

The membership, active and associate, in 
1891, had trebled that in 1886. Nor had this 
numerical growth been ephemeral. Strength 
had been developed side by side with num- 
bers. 

The problem of secretarial training demanded 
much attention from the International Secre- 
taries. From their entrance into the work 
both Miss Dunn and Miss Tarr gave time and 
thought to correspondence and intercourse 
with candidates for the secretaryship. It was 
apparent how little the qualifications for this 
office were understood, how narrow, in many 
cases, was the conception of its possibilities. 
On the other hand, those young women who 
recognized in it a profession opening to them a 
rare means of Christian influence among young 
women, in proportion as they appreciated this, 



30 YOUNG WOMEN 

eagerly desired to be better equipped to meet 
its requirements. 

The General Secretary of the city association 
is its pivot — the heart of the association, not 
alone as its vital centre, but also in her affec- 
tionate relation to the young- women of the 
community. As such she is their representa- 
tive in church, social and business circles. She 
should therefore be able to meet all classes 
with ease. She needs to be thoroughly 
informed in association principles, methods 
and history, in the social conditions of young 
women in her own and other communities; 
their problems and how to meet them. And to 
meet the needs of young women with the only 
effective help, the secretary should have 
thorough knowledge of her Bible. All this 
requires training. 
First There was no training school yet established. 
Association ^ t ^ e assoc j a tions were too young in experi- 

Summer J ° L 

Conference, ence to serve the purpose of one. Impressed 
with this need, Miss Tarr prevailed upon the 
International Committee to undertake, in the 
summer of 1891, an Association Summer School 
at Bay View, Michigan, in connection with the 
assembly held there every year. The result of 
this first attempt was the conviction among 
association workers that the Summer School 
was an indispensable factor henceforth of the 
work. A change of place, however, was 



DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION 31 

deemed desirable, and the school was trans- 
ferred in the summer of 1892 to the Young 
Men's Christian Association Secretarial camp 
on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where it has con- 
tinned each summer to be the conference for 
the associations of the middle Western states. 
The general plan of the first Summer Confer- 
ence became the pattern of all the Association 
Summer Conferences since held — of which the 
number in 1899 was five. They proved an 
invaluable factor in the association develop- 
ment. 

Instruction was afforded through carefully 
prepared lectures and open discussion, in the 
history, principles, aim and methods of the 
association. Specialists explained and taught 
the work of each of the departments. Each 
part of the field with its relation to all the 
other parts, was considere/i. Very special 
attention was devoted to the secretary and her 
responsibilities. But above all, prominence 
was given to Bible study and teaching, through 
general classes and workers' training classes ; 
and the special province of the association in 
direct spiritual effort to win young women to 
Christ was emphasized in action as well as 
theory in the Summer Conferences. Young 
women heretofore Christians only in name, 
realized for the first time their Christian priv- 
ileges and responsibilities, and others were led 



3-2 YOUNG WOMEN 

to a Saviour whom they had never before 
accepted. Missionary and Student Volunteer 
meetings had always a large place in the Con- 
ference. Young women now in the foreign 
field, many of them, remember well that their 
decision to go was definitely made on the 
banks of Lake Geneva, or in the twilight meet- 
ings on Round Top at Northfield. 

Miss Dunn retired from the secretaryship 
immediately after the Bay View Summer 
School. After a period of rest which her 
health demanded, she was married to Mr. Wal- 
ter Clark and with him entered the foreign 
mission field, to which she had long desired to 
devote her life. As a wife and mother she has 
been able to exert in Northern India the influ- 
ence which emanates from a Christian home. 

In 1891, shortly after Miss Dunn's resigna- 
tion, the International Committee called Miss 
Elizabeth Wilson as editor of the Evangel. 
The many demands of the field obliged her, in 
addition to this work, to spend much time in 
visitation and organization in the far West and 
on the Pacific Coast. 
a General In view of the importance of a wise plan- 
SeCr ofthe n i n & an d supervision of time and visitation, 
international the office of General Secretary of the Interna- 
committee. tional Committee was instituted, and Miss 
Tarr was called to the position at the close of. 
the Bay View Summer School. 



DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION 33 

In the spring of 189 2 the United Central 
Council of Young Women's Christian Associa- 
tions of Great Britain invited representatives of 
the associations in other countries to unite 
with them in their meetings in London and to 
confer with them in regard to establishing a 
World's Conference or Association. The Inter- 
national Committee accepted this invitation and 
appointed as their delegates, their General Sec- 
retary, Miss Tarr, and one of their committee, 
Miss R. F. Morse. 

As early as the year 1888, Mrs. L. D. Wis- 
hard, a member of the International Commit- 
tee, had conferred in London, with the Hon. 
Emily Kinnaird and other British ladies and 
with the International Committee in America, as 
to the advisability of establishing a correspond- 
ence between the National Associations of the 
two countries by which they could be mutually 
helpful to young women passing from one 
country to the other. The proposition was 
favorably received in both lands and corre- 
spondents were appointed by each country. 
It is interesting to note in Mrs. Wishard's 
and Miss Kinnaird's letters of that time their Great Britain 
glance into the exigencies of the future. Mrs. 
Wishard, referring to the importance of some 
official union between the British and Ameri- 
can Young Women's Christian Associations, 
says: "While a World's Committee may at 



Corre- 
spondence 
with 



34 YOUNG WOMEN 

some distant day be the medium of union, we 
are agreed that we are not yet ready for so 
unwieldy a body." And again: "America 
and Britain will stand side by side in the for- 
eign field, and their work should not be 
impeded by lack of harmony in methods and 
wisdom in the occupation of fields." The Hon. 
Emily Kinnaird writes to the American cor- 
respondent appointed, expressing her gratifica- 
tion with the plan and adds : "I am sure it will 
be for the glory of God and the benefit of 
young women if we can, as far as possible, 
unitedly extend in foreign lands." Miss 
Breay was first appointed as the British corre- 
spondent, succeeded by others later. Miss 
R. F. Morse was the correspondent of the 
International Committee. From 1888 till 1892 
letters were written as needed, but the corre- 
spondence had not developed any extended 
work, being limited to the sending, receiving 
and helping young women from Great Britain 
to America. 
The world's Miss Morse and Miss Tarr sailed in March of 
women's 1892, visited some of the principal associations 

christian [ n Great Britain and attended the London Con- 
Association , . ,, . £ 
organized ference, meeting there representatives of Swe- 

1894. ^ en> France, Holland, Australia, India, Swit- 
zerland, South America, and the divisions of the 
United Kingdom. As a result of the confer- 
ence the foundation of the World's Young 



DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION 35 

Women's Christian Association was laid, the 
organization being completed in November, 
1894. Great Britain and America were strongly 
united in the World's Association, through 
sharing equally in the financial responsibility 
and through the composition of the World's 
Committee which, holding its headquarters in 
London with a British Executive Committee, 
yet called to its General Secretaryship and as 
one of the committee, an American, Miss A. 
M. Reynolds. In addition to these mutual 
bonds in the work, all important decisions of 
the committee were the result of combined 
consultation between the British and American 
members of the World's Committee. The con- 
stitution admitting of two members for Amer- 
ica, Mrs. William Boyd (Miss Corabel Tarr) 
and Miss R. F. Morse were appointed by the 
International Committee to represent them on 
the World's Committee. Immediately after 
the organization of this World's Association, 
Miss Agnes G. Hill accepted the call of the 
Madras (India) Young Women's Christian 
Association to become its general secretary 
and sailed for India, the first foreign Young 
Women's Christian Association secretary sent 
out by the World's Committee. Thus the hopes 
of Mrs. Wishard and Miss Kinnaird, expressed 
in 1888, began to see their fulfillment in 1894. 
In two years' time, 1896, the National Associa- 



36 YOUNG WOMEN 

National t j on f T n dj a Burmah and Ceylon was or^an- 

Organization . J & 

of India, ized with a National Committee in Calcutta, 
Burmah, and an( j M iss Agnes G. Hill became the National 

Ceylon. ° 

Secretary. Two years later, in June, 1898, 
the World's Young Women's Christian Associa- 
tion held its first World's Conference in Lon- 
don. Seven National Associations formed its 
constituency — the British United Central 
Council, the International Young Women's 
Christian Association of America, the Young 
Women's Christian Association of the Domin- 
ion of Canada, the National Associations of 
Sweden, Norway, Italy and India. These and 
fifteen other countries were represented by 
three hundred and twenty-six delegates at the 
conference. The constitution, till then pro- 
visional, was adopted and at the meetings which 
strengthened the ties binding together these 
representatives of so many different lands, the 
World's Executive Committee was reelected 
and the headquarters were retained in London 
for the ensuing three years. 

Preparation for the Summer Conference in 
its first occupancy of the camp at Lake Geneva 
was the principal work of the spring months of 
1892. An unusual number of calls for new sec- 
retaries in the field also required Miss Tarr's 
time in correspondence and interviews. In 
November her resignation was regretfully 
accepted by the Committee. They felt that the 



DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION 




strengthened condition of every part of the 
work, the high standard to which the office of 
secretary had been lifted, as well as the estab- 
lishment of the Summer Conference on a per- 
manent foundation, and the union of America 
with Great Britain in a World's Young Women's 
Christian Association were largely due to the 
broad views and faithful labors of Miss Tarr. 

The year of 1893 opened with six secretaries 
in the field engaged in international work. 
Miss Effie K. Price, a member of the faculty of 
the Northwestern Academy of Evanston, Illi- 
nois, succeeded Miss Tarr as General Secre- 
tary of the International Committee. In the 
same month Miss Morris was added to the 
office corps of workers to assist Miss Hall and 
Miss Wilson. Miss Emma Reeder began work 
as an international secretary on the Pacific 
Coast, and in a few months became the Pacific 
Coast Secretary. Miss Blanche Zehring had 
already been working in the spring and fall for 
the International Committee in New England. 

While all departments of the work in the 
field at large had been so rapidly growing dur- 
ing these years, the International Committee 
at headquarters had increased in its member- 
ship and had developed a systematic policy. 
At first the committee membership consisted of 
eight women resident in Chicago, together 
with the chairmen of the state committees. 



Six 

Secretaries, 

1893. 



Work of the 

International 

Committee. 



38 YOUNG WOMEN 

As the association field was enlarged and new 
responsibilities devolved upon the committee 
the need was felt of a larger number of resi- 
dent members and of influential women non- 
residents — though not always holding the office 
of State Chairman nor able to give time to 
state work. 

The constitution was amended from time to 
time to meet these and other requirements, 
and in February, 1890, was carefully revised 
and a set of by-laws adopted. In October, 
1891, the International Committee was incor- 
porated, with a membership of twenty-seven 
women, seventeen of whom were resident at 
headquarters, while ten non-residents repre- 
sented the committee in other parts of the 
field. Provision was made in the by-laws for 
six standing committees to have charge of the 
several departments of finance, publications, 
the Evangel, state work, city work and college 
work. In 1893, through amendments in the 
by-laws, the Evangel and Publications Commit- 
tees were combined in one and an Executive 
Committee and Secretarial Committee were 
added. The former was composed of the offi- 
cers and the chairmen of the standing commit- 
tees. To the Executive Committee were 
referred such questions as required decision at 
times when the International Committee could 
not as a whole be convened, and also those mat- 



DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION 39 

ters which came under no other committee's 
charge. The seventh — the Secretarial Com- 
mittee — served the purpose of a secretarial 
bureau for the whole association field. Through 
it the International Committee was enabled to 
keep informed concerning candidates desiring- 
to enter the field as secretaries and to know 
those who, while already in office, yet might 
require a change of position, as well as to hear 
from the associations needing secretaries. Per- 
haps no one of the standing committees has 
had a more important function than this Secre- 
tarial Committee. The International Commit- 
tee, through its supervision of the whole field, 
the constant visitation of the traveling interna- 
tional secretaries and the office correspondence 
with all the associations, occupied a vantage 
ground, enabling it to weigh the needs of 
the various associations and to judge of the 
qualifications in the secretary which would in 
each case best meet these needs. While in this, 
as in all the policy and action of the Interna- 
tional Committee, there was no dictation or 
interference in any respect with the freedom of 
action in associations, the counsel, suggestion 
and recommendations of the Secretarial Com- 
mittee were valuable in proportion as it 
possessed this advantage of a broad and com- 
prehensive view of the whole field. In almost 
every instance those secretaries and those asso- 



YOUNG WOMEN 



ciations, both state and local, which sought and 
acted on the recommendations thus given, 
profited thereby and were less liable to mis- 
takes than if proceeding independently of this 
experience and counsel. This has been and 
will undoubtedly always continue to be, a 
standing committee of inestimable value. 

The province of the National Committee in 
the association is of such importance that its 
work and membership deserve more than a 
passing word. It is a mistake, sometimes made, 
to regard its province as that of dictation to the 
associations in the field. At the time of national 
organization in 1880, the leaders of the move- 
ment recognized the necessity of permanency 
of headquarters in a central location, with a 
committee of women who should stand for the 
centralization and unity of the work. To them 
should be committed the supervision of the 
whole field, the promulgation of the principles 
of the association, "the maintenance of uniform- 
ity of method, together with such a study of 
the associations as should enable them to be 
most helpful to each one in the development 
and progress of its practical work. The Com- 
mittee studies the field; exercises a fostering 
care of existing associations; counsels them in 
their work ; helps them when national help is 
needed; recommends to them secretaries — but 
recommends only ; keeps them in touch with 



DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION 41 

each other, thus guarding against mistakes in 
methods and through the knowledge of suc- 
cessful work accomplished, enabling each to 
learn from the experience of others, how to 
attain to the high ideals of the work. The Com- 
mittee, also, through the prescribed conditions 
of membership, guards the spiritual safety and 
interests of the association and preserves its 
close alliance with the work of the Evangelical 
church of Christ. By no means a light or 
insignificant part of the Committee's work is 
the financial responsibility, in the careful com- 
putation of the budget for each year's growing 
needs and the soliciting, collecting and wise 
distribution of the funds. Add to this the 
study of extension into new fields, whether of 
place or department, the consideration of and 
decisions regarding the plans and duties of 
the national secretaries, and the apportion- 
ment of those duties, and it will be realized that 
the committee work requires wise discernment, 
time and labor. 

The association could not have reached its 
present proportions and prosperity had not 
these conditions been met, at least in a great 
measure, in the committee membership. In 
Mrs. John V. Farwell, Jr., the first chairman 
of the Committee, were, in a rare degree, com- 
bined the qualifications needed to meet these 
requirements as well as those of the office of 



4-2 YOUNG WOMEN 

chairman. Her good judgment and unselfish 
devotion to the work has always been an 
acknowledged example and incentive to other 
committee members. They could not but feel 
that they sustained an irreparable loss when 
Mrs. Farwell, though remaining on the Com- 
mittee, was obliged in 1805, to withdraw from 
the arduous duties of chairman. Growing in 
experience and in loyalty to it as the work grew, 
the committee members have given to the 
association more and more of their time and 
labor, while increased discernment and wisdom 
have resulted from the solution of each per- 
plexing problem. There has been no dissen- 
sion among the members. Harmonious and 
united action has followed all discussions, even 
when opinions differed. 
National Xor can the National Committee be consid- 
aTLea^ders ere d apart from the National Secretaries. These 
i the work, latter have always been and must always be 
the main reliance in carrying on the active 
work of the national field. Both as travelers 
in the field and correspondents in the office at 
headquarters, to them the Committee has looked 
for information, counsel, wise plans and the 
effective execution of them. Xor have they 
looked in vain. From the pioneer secretary in 
the work — Miss Nettie Dunn— to the present 
force of seven, the National Secretaries have 
been faithful workers in the field and loyal 



DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION 



r helpers of the Committee at headquarters. Who 
shall be able to estimate the power derived 
frc 
cai 
L 
op 
se( 
na 



from the sense of working in a righteous 
cause, of leaning upon the might of the 
Lord and upon His guidance, which has dur- 
ing these fourteen years sustained and devel- 
oped the American National Committee and its 
secretaries ? 

\i the great Columbian Exposition — the Represen- 
World's Fair — in the summer of 1893, the Inter- c i um ^i a n 
national Association had its room in the Exposition, 
Women's Building and its exhibit of records 



and photographs from the various associations. 
One of the International Secretaries was in 
attendance to srve information concerning the 
work. Both in the Women's Congress in June 
and in that of religious societies in October the 
Association was represented, occupying a day 
in each. In the latter congress one of the 
speakers was Lord Kinnaird, president of the 
Young Women's Christian Association of Lon- 
don. 

In the month of June the first Xorthfield 
Summer Conference of the Young Women's 
Christian Association was held in the build- 
ings of the Seminary. In 1892 Mr. Moodv 
had been urged by the young women stu- 
dents in the East to arrange for them such 
a conference as the Young Men's Association 
held at Xorthfield everv vear in July. A 



Xorthfield 
Conference. 



ML*---- : -« ; ^ 








- c?l. 






n 

3 


m 1 



DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION 45 

petition was drawn up, signed by a .arge 
number of those interested, and sent to Mr. 
Moody, who was then in England, the bearer 
being Miss May Whittle, now Mrs. W. R. 
Moody. The International Committee offered 
to make all arrangements for the conduct of 
the conference. On his return to this country 
Mr. Moody gave his consent and accepted the 
offer of the International Committee. Mr. 
Moody being obliged to spend most of the time 
of the first conference in Chicago, Mrs. A. J. 
Gordon, of Boston, presided. The Northfield 
Conference thus inaugurated has proved the 
blessing to Eastern students and associations 
that that of Lake Geneva is to the Western 
constituency. Mr. Moody's cordial invitation 
at the close of the conference of 1893 gave 
assurance of its permanency, and it has been 
held every year with increasing representation 
from the women's colleges of New England and 
the Middle States. In Mr. Moody's death in 
1899, the Young Women's Christian Association 
suffered the loss of a warm friend. 

In 1894 a Summer Conference was planned 
to be held at Cazadero on the Pacific Coast, but 
owing to the great railroad strike that summer 
it was impossible to carry out the plans. In 
1895 the first Summer Conference for the 
Southern States was held at Rogersville, Tenn. 
Active work of visitation among the colleges of 




5 £ 

K < 

[7 r. 

x 2 



o _ 



DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION 47 

the South preceded the conference. The 
attendance was small, but the Southern stu- 
dents were interested and a beginning- had been 
made. The following year the conference was 
transferred to Asheville, N. C, where it has 
been held every year since 1896, with increas- 
ing numbers and deepening interest. An 
encouraging feature, and one peculiar to this 
Southern gathering, is the presence of faculty 
members from the institutions represented. 
These, coming with the students, have taken a 
warm interest in the association as it is estab- 
lished in their colleges. In 1895 the Southern 
associations were organized in divisions, no one 
state being at first strong enough to stand alone. 
State organization was, however, soon recog- 
nized as desirable, and was begun in 1897. 

At Mills College, near San Francisco, the 
Summer Conference of the Pacific Coast was 
inaugurated in 1896, and repeated in 1897. 
The conference was omitted in 1898, but a 
Metropolitan Conference was held in 1899, pre- 
sided over by Miss A. M. Reynolds, the World's 
Secret ary. In the spring of 1900 Miss Harriet 
Taylor spent some time on the Coast, and 
while there held a most successful conference 
at Capitola. 

Aside from the spiritual blessing to individual 
lives, considered as a training school in the 
principles and practical activities of the associa- 



48 YOUNG WOMEN 

tion, the Summer Conferences have supplied at 
least to some extent the great need of such 
training. That this was not adequately met, 
however, by these Summer Conferences was 
apparent to the committee as early as 1894. 
Association ^he International Association School for 

School. 

i oung "Women was opened in January, 1895, 
in Chicago, under the charge of a Board of 
Directors, with Mrs. William Boyd as presi- 
dent. The West Side Association of Chicago 
was organized in connection with the school. 
It was hoped that the association might prove 
a blessing to the young women in that part 
of Chicago, at the same time affording a home 
for the school and a field of practical work for 
the students. From the Bible Institute, 
Young Men's Christian Association and other 
institutions were gathered instruction and 
suggestion. Lectures from experienced men 
and women engaged in Christian work were 
planned to broaden the student's horizon and 
make her intelligent in all forms of Christian 
activity. Daily instruction was given in the 
Bible and in personal work, association history, 
principles and methods, together with a study 
of the qualifications needed in secretaries, phys- 
ical directors and other department officers. 
Special attention was also given to physical 
culture. The school year included three terms- 
winter, spring and summer. Mrs.. Boyd devoted 



DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION 49 

much time and earnest labor to the work until 
September, 1896, when her family cares obliged 
her to resign. 

At the biennial convention in April, 1897, 
it was decided to substitute for the school 
terms in Chicago and Evanston, training insti- 
tutes to last from four to six weeks in the dif- 
ferent city associations suitably equipped for ^ r s ^™t? 
such meetings. An institute was accordingly 
conducted on this plan in the Harlem Associa- 
tion (New York City) from March 11 to April 
11, in 1898. Bible study in several lines, lec- 
tures, treatment of every department and sys- 
tem of association work, both of young women 
and young men, together with association prin- 
ciples and history ; various branches of Chris- 
tian organization other than that of the associa- 
tion and visits to the institutions representing 
these ; practical demonstration of the lessons 
learned, by participation in the active work of 
the Harlem Association ; these were the feat- 
ures of the institute. Add to this the fact that 
all branches of the teaching were given by 
experienced and acknowledged leaders in the 
several lines in which they excelled, and it will 
readily be understood that this institute under 
the wise leadership and administration of Miss 
Erne K. Price and Miss Harriet Taylor was a 
great blessing to those students who attended 
and took the full course. The devotional spirit 



50 YOUNG WOMEN 

pervading this little band of students made 
possible the blessing which resulted to each 
one. 

Owing to the pressure of work upon all the 
secretaries of the committee, this training of 
new secretaries through institutes was discon- 
tinued, reappearing to some degree, as will be 
seen later, in connection with the regular 
work of the Chicago Association Settlement. 



III. 



RELATIONS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF 
WOMEN'S AND YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRIS- 
TIAN ASSOCIATIONS 



"Why are there two national organizations bear- 
ing similar names, defining their work and methods 
in similar language ? ' ' 

"Why cannot these two be united in one organ- 
ization ? ' ' 

Within the answers to these two questions 
lies the history of the relations between the 
two organizations. 

As this is not intended to be the history of 
both organizations, reference will be made to 
that of the International Board of Women's and 
Young Women's Christian Associations, only so 
far as to make clear these relations. 

The origin of the Biennial Conference of 
Women's Christian Associations, which in 1891 
became organized into the International Board 
just mentioned, has already been recorded, 
and the relation held by the student Voung 
Women's Christian Associations to this confer- 
ence. 

Soon after the National — afterwards Inter- 



52 YOUNG WOMEN 

Organization national — Association had been organized in 

in Cities. . . fe 

188G, and the existing associations in student 
institutions had been visited and strengthened, 
the International Committee turned its attention 
to the young women in cities. A call for organ- 
ization had come from several of these, and 
the committee responded, sending Miss Dunn 
to help them. Several city associations were 
thus formed and came into affiliation with the 
International Association. The International 
Committee and its secretaries felt that a part of 
their province lay in commending the associa- 
tion to the communities visited, wherever the 
need of the work was recognized either by them- 
selves or by others. To this degree they influ- 
enced for organization, but did not force it. 
First steps were usually taken by women in the 
city itself, who had already become interested 
either through knowledge of the benefit derived 
in other cities, through personal interviews with 
workers or through attendance on state or inter- 
national conventions of the associations affili- 
ated with the International Committee. To 
these conventions all women interested in Chris- 
tian work were invited. In a city thus inter- 
ested, a temporary organization would be 
formed by a group of women, and the Inter- 
national Committee would be requested to send 
their secretary to complete and place it on a 
permanent basis. 



RELATIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL BOARD 



53 



Some invitations were received, however, to 
organize in cities where there were already 
Women's or Young Women's Christian Associa- 
tions not affiliated with the International Com- 
mittee. The Committee responded to these invi- 
tations where it was found that the existing asso- 
ciation was devoting its attention either to some 
one department, only, of association work for 
young women, like a boarding home ; or was 
engaged in hospital work, home for the aged, 
or some class in the community other than 
young women. Sometimes, too, there was 
room in the large cities for more than one asso- 
ciation, and the unoccupied district was the one 
asking the International Committee for the 
organization. Some six associations were 
organized by the International Committee in 
cities of this character. The work being always 
that which is peculiar to the Young Women's 
Christian Association, that name was always 
kept, but care was taken to prefix to it a title 
which should guard against confusion. 

This organization of a second association in 
a city where there was already a Women's or 
Young Women's Christian Association was, 
however, resented by the individual associa- 
tion in the locality, and by the biennial confer- 
ence of Women's Christian Associations, at 
which it was reported. The result was there- 
fore prejudicial to the peace and harmony 



54 YOUNG WOMEN 

which should exist between Christian soci- 
eties, working in the interests of Christ's 
kingdom, and in the spirit of His love for 
their fellows. Undoubtedly there was lack 
of wisdom, of loving tact, and of Christian for- 
bearance on both sides in those early days, 
and difficulties arose in the work of both 
organizations. It is not the purpose of this 
history to deal with the details of these diffi- 
culties, but rather to briefly relate the efforts 
oh both sides to bring about a harmonious set- 
tlement and a method of carrying on the work 
in both organizations so that neither might be 
hindered in its own province, nor, on the other 
hand, be a hindrance to the sister organization. 
Five Attempts Five distinct attempts have been made to 
Harmonious establish harmonious relations. In 1889 
Relations, committees were appointed by the Women's 
Christian Associations Conference and by 
« the International Committee, to confer to- 
gether for this purpose. The International 
Committee drew up and laid before the 
Women's Christian Associations a proposed 
line of conduct, which it would pursue, if 
the Women's Associations accented it also. 
The object of the plan was to avoid friction, 
and vet pursue the work of extension in the 
cities, as far as possible, harmoniously. In 1801, 
when this proposal was considered by the 
Women's Christian Associations, thev had 



RELATIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL BOARD 55 

organized, at their tenth biennial conference in 
Chicago, into the International Board of 
Women's and Young Women's Christian Asso- 
ciations. The International Board did not 
respond to the proposed policy of the Inter- 
national Committee, but proposed that the 
International Committee change its name, give 
up the charge of its forty-three cities, and con- 
fine its work for the future to student associa- 
tions. This proposal was refused by the Inter- 
national Committee. 

In 1893 the Albany Association — independ- 
ent, not being affiliated with either the Inter- 
national Committee or the International Board, 
drew up a plan by which both organizations 
should unite to form one new society. This 
proposition met the approval of the Inter- 
national Committee's associations, as its out- 
lined plan guaranteed the preservation of the 
fundamental principles of the association. The 
convention at Toledo voted its acceptance. But 
the International Board voted not to accept it, 
at its conference in the same year. Thus this 
second attempt failed. 

Personal interviews between individuals, 
leaders, and workers, led to the third plan — 
this time formed after long conference between 
two committees of four each, representing the 
two organizations. This, again, was a proposal 
that all the associations of both the Inter- 



56 YOUNG WOMEN 

national Committee and the International 
Board should unite to form one new associa- 
tion. When these committees separated, and 
the International Board, at its Brooklyn con- 
ference, held immediately afterwards, voted to 
accept the plan, subject to the approval of its 
individual associations, it seemed as if union 
were, indeed, to be effected. Further consulta- 
tion and conference by two larger committees 
of ten each, appointed for the purpose of adjust- 
ing- the details of the plan, revealed obstacles 
deemed by some insurmountable to a union. 
These obstacles presented themselves when the 
constitution was discussed. The basis of mem- 
bership, representation at conventions, agencies 
of the work, permanent headquarters — these 
were the principal features on which the two 
committees could not agree to the satisfaction 
of both. Had the fundamental condition of 
union been preserved, however, even these 
difficulties might have been overcome. The 
agreement that all associations then existing 
in the International Board of Women's and 
Young Women's Christian Associations should 
form a part of the new organization, no change 
being required in their constitutions, removed 
any difficulty in regard to the basis of member- 
ship for themselves. This condition remained 
unchanged throughout the deliberations of the 
Adjustment Committee. The adoption of the 



RELATIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL BOARD 57 

Evangelical basis of membership for future 
associations desiring to join the new organiza- 
tion would have met the principles of the 
International Committee of Young Women's 
Christian Associations. It was the withdrawal 
by the International Board from the agreement 
to this condition of the adoption of the Evan- 
gelical basis of membership in the constitution 
of the new organization which, in the end, 
decisively blocked the proceedings. The rea- 
son given by the Adjustment Committee of 
the International Board for this action was a 
decided preference for a different basis of 
membership and a fear, justified, it was felt, 
by knowledge of the wishes of its associations, 
that many would not join the new organi- 
zation and thus the Board would lose its 
members, for which loss union would not 
compensate. 

The attempt to unite having failed, an agree- 
ment was drawn up by the joint Adjustment 
Committee, as follows: — 

"Article 1. Where one association is com- Agreement of 
plicated by the presence of another in the same Ad ]' ustment 
locality, causing thereby misunderstanding or ommi 
confusion in name, in the work undertaken, in 
the possession of property, or any other com- 
plications, we will recommend representatives 
of both organizations to come together for 
friendly adjustment of these difficulties. 

"Art. 2. In localities where an association 



.58 YOUNG WOMEN 

already exists, neither bod)' shall organize 
another association bearing- the same name 
without the consent of the existing association. 

"Art. 3. When either international body is 
about to enter a new field, investigation shall 
be made concerning the relation of the other 
body to this field, and, if open, notification of 
intention to occupy it shall be sent to the other 
international body. 

"Art. 4. In all questions causing misunder- 
standing, judgment will be withheld until full 
explanation has been received from both sides. 

"Art. 5. Our two organizations shall ex- 
change publications and other courtesies, and 
shall strive to prove that the work is to be car- 
ried on "Not by might, nor by power, but by 
my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts." 

This paper was signed by the members of 
the joint Adjustment Committee, presented to 
their respective Executive Committees, and was 
accepted as their rule of action until the fol- 
lowing biennial meetings of each organization, 
when it was to be presented to these meet- 
ings for ratification. 

In December, 1896, an independent student 
association in Philadelphia applied for admis- 
sion into the International Committee's mem- 
bership. The application had been made di- 
rectly after a long-promised visit from the gen- 
eral secretary of the International Committee. 
The Philadelphia city association, affiliated 



RELATIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL BOARD 59 

with the International Board, took exception 
to this action because consultation had not 
been sought with them, and claimed that the 
Agreement had been violated. Correspond- 
ence failed to bring about a satisfactory under- 
standing-, and, after a few letters, the Inter- 
national Committee proposed a representative 
conference of those concerned, that harmony 
might be restored, at the same time express- 
ing willingness that the student association 
should withdraw from affiliation with the com- 
mittee, if, after the conference, such a course 
should seem wise. The Philadelphia associa- 
tion and the International Board's committee 
not consenting to this proposed conference, 
there seemed no way to secure harmony. The 
correspondence carried on between these two 
committees had revealed the fact, also, that 
they differed in their interpretation of the 
Agreement. The facts were laid before the 
Young "Women's Christian Associations in the 
International Convention at Detroit in 1897, 
together with a full report of the Adjustment 
Committee. The convention gave the matter 
very careful consideration, and adopted the fol- 
lowing resolutions : — 

"Whereas, W T e, the International Young 
Women's Christian Association, in convention 
assembled, feel that the Adjustment Agree- 
ment of the committee on relations is not sum- 



60 YOUNG WOMEN" 

ciently explicit to lead to a clear understand- 
ing- and prevent confusion of ideas, and 

"Whereas, We recognize the difficulty of 
forming an agreement which shall bear the 
same interpretation to members of two bodies, 
differing somewhat in methods and use of 
terms, 

' ' Resolved, That we refer it back to the Inter- 
national Committee, with the following instruc- 
tions : — 

"1. To express again to the International 
Board our unanimous desire for the deepening 
of such a friendly spirit in all the work as shall 
best promote mutual Christian relations. 

"2. That while we have nothing to suggest 
as a substitute for the proposed Agreement 
between the two organizations, we hope for the 
framing of a policy which shall make our own 
members intelligent, so that they may appreci- 
ate the importance of comity on the field, and 
the development and extension of the spirit of 
harmony which we deem indispensable to suc- 
cess in the work of Christian bodies." 

The fourth attempt had failed. What then 
should be the next plan? 

In the summer of 1897 the International 
Committee decided to adopt a working policy 
for its own organization to govern its relations 
with the International Board; a policy to be 
tested during the two years which should inter- 
vene before the convention of 1899, to be 
strictly adhered to or modified, whichever were 



RELATIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL BOARD 61 

proved the wiser by practical experience. The 
policy adopted followed closely the articles of 
the Agreement as they were understood and 
intended by the International Committee at the 
time of the adjustment meetings. 

As presented to the Milwaukee Convention working 

Policy 

in 1899, this policy read as follows: — Adopted by 



' ' The International Committee having re 
ceived the instructions conveyed in the reso- 1899. 
lutions adopted at the Detroit Convention, in 
regard to our relations with the International 
Board of Women's and Young Women's Chris- 
tian Associations, after careful consideration, 
adopted, at the regular meeting of the com- 
mittee in June, the following resolutions : — 

"Whereas, the convention at Detroit in April, 
1897, voted not to ratify the agreement as pro- 
posed by the Adjustment Committee and 
accepted by the International Committee for 
the time intervening between June, 1896, and 
April, 1897, but referred it back to the Inter- 
national Committee with certain instructions : — 

"Resolved, That in place of an agreement 
with the International Board, the International 
Association adopt for itself a working policy, 
to be tested during the next two years, until 
the International Convention of 1899. That 
this policy cover the following ground : — 

' ' I. That wherever there are at present com- 
plications in cities, the existing associations 
belonging to different international bodies, or 
holding an independent position, we will recom- 
mend endeavor to bring about a satisfactory 



International 
Convention, 



62 YOUNG WOMEN 

adjustment of these difficulties, and to promote 
harmonious relations between the associations, 
accomplishing this when practicable by means 
of friendly conference of the local associations. 

"II. In localities where but one city associa- 
tion already exists, either belonging- to the 
International Board or independent, we will 
not organize another city association bearing 
the same name, without the consent of the 
first named association. In cities where the 
International Association and the International 
Board have each one or more associations, the 
rights and interests of all these local associa- 
tions shall be carefully considered before 
deciding on organizing a new association, and 
every reasonable effort be made to avoid com- 
plications. 

"III. When we are about to enter a new field, 
investigation shall first be made concerning the 
relations of the International Board to this 
field, and care be taken to avoid any action 
which would be prejudicial to the interests of 
the Board. 

" IV. We will cordially respond to requests 
for explanation from the International Board, 
investigate any action of ours which may be 
deemed by the Board contrary to the preserva- 
tion of harmonious relations between the two 
organizations, and strive to avoid, in the first 
instance, giving cause for such complaint. 

' 'V. We will recommend and constantly seek 
to further, cordial and prayerful intercourse 
between all associations and individual workers 
of both our international organizations, espe- 
cially in conventions and conferences, in the 



RELATIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL BOARD 63 

hope and belief that through this intercourse 
we shall finally come together into the one 
united organization, so greatly to be desired. 

"Resolved, That while adopting this as our 
policy, we will consider it flexible, and during 
these two years, either by adhering strictly to 
it, or by modifying it, as we may be led, under 
Divine guidance, we will endeavor to reach a 
plan which shall meet all the exigencies of the 
association field in this important respect. 

" International Committee." 

The International Board was courteously 
informed of these steps as they were taken, 
and asked to form a policy for its own action 
similar to that of the International Committee, 
that the two organizations might work in con- 
cert. Though this was not done, the working 
policy of the International Committee so well 
met the need, that during the two years no 
modification was found necessary, and the con- 
vention at Milwaukee, 1899, adopted the plan 
as it stood, for the next two years. 

It is the earnest desire of the American Com- 
mittee that good will and harmony between the 
two organizations may characterize the coming 
years, and that the future may yet see their 
Christian work for young women united in one 
association. 





1 1 






«|g*- ™ ?raH| 


i 1 


^H^^K>- ''<^4(RQSS^KBn 





IV. 



DEPARTMENTAL WORK 



With the South opening to association work; 
the West developing, and city associations mul- 
tiplying, the field of the association had so rap- 
idly extended that it was evident additional 
National Secretaries and more undivided atten- 
tion were needed for each separate part and 
department. 

Changes had occurred in the secretarial staff. 
In the office at headquarters in 1894, Miss 
Thirsa Hall was succeeded by Miss Carrie B. 
Wilson. On the resignation of Miss Elizabeth 
Wilson, the Evangel had been edited for a short 
time by Miss A. M. Reynolds, and on her call 
to become the World's Secretary in July, Miss 
Eva Seevers took the position. The long desired 
College Secretaryship was filled by Miss Flor- College 
ence Simms of DePauw University. Other 
secretaries were called for a time to do special 
work for the committee, and in 1896 Miss Mary 
Morris was added to the international corps as 
helper in the office. A new department, that 
for city associations, was formed, and to Miss 
Harriet Taylor, State Secretary of Xew York, 



YOUXG WOMEN 



City 
Secretary. 



Impetus to 

Educational 

Work in 

the City 

Associations. 



was offered the City Secretaryship. Miss Tay- 
lor accepted the call and began her work as 
International City Secretary in October, 1895. 
At the convention of 1897, in Detroit, the sec- 
retarial report of the work accomplished by 
each of these secretaries and that of Miss Price 
in Summer Conferences, State Conventions 
and college and city visitation, gives evidence 
that the enlarged secretarial force was yet too 
small to meet all the demands and opportuni- 
ties of the field. The new City Department 
had been well established. Through careful 
correspondence and visitation the field was 
canvassed. The condition and needs of the 
city associations, their boards and secretaries, 
as well as the social conditions of young women 
in the various cities were thoroughly investi- 
gated. Each association thus received the 
valuable help of experience gained from the 
broad and intimate knowledge of all. For the 
International Committee this knowledge was 
systematized, and through maps and tables an 
insight secured into their city associations 
which they had not been in a position to obtain 
hitherto. 

An additional advantage of great value to 
the city associations was obtained through the 
city department at this time, in the impetus 
given to educational work. Through the cour- 
teous invitation of the International Young 



DEPARTMENTAL WORK G7 

Men's Christian Association, the city associa- 
tions of the young women were admitted to a 
share in their educational examinations, and 
were granted the certificates which are offi- 
cially recognized by the universities and col- 
leges of the country. Miss Taylor devoted 
attention to this work until it had been placed 
on a firm footing. In two years the branches 
of study increased from five to twelve, and 
the certificates at first received in fifteen edu- 
cational institutions were recognized in one 
hundred and five. The results, from the first, 
in the young women's educational classes where 
the examinations were taken, were most grati- 
fying. 

The investigation into the social conditions 
of women in cities led the International Com- 
mittee to realize how great a field was yet 
untouched by the Young Women's Christian 
Associations. The opportunities afforded to 
enter this field through settlement work were 
apparent. The results of the Christodora Set- 
tlement for young women in Xew York City 
had proved the possibility and power of relying 
upon the Gospel of Christ and its proclamation 
in the conduct of the work. The Christodora 
Settlement, while not affiliated with the Inter- 
national Committee for reasons satisfactory to 
both parties, had been started by association 
workers. The committee in control were in 



House. 



68 YOUNG WOMEN 

full sympathy with the International Associa- 
tion, and the work was conducted on associa- 
tion methods. 

While the needs of women in the cities were 
thus occupying the thoughts of association 
workers, an opportunity was suddenly pre- 
sented to the International Committee to open 
such a settlement in a part of Chicago, where 
3^oung women were surrounded with peculiar 
perils. 

A house was secured in this locality. Miss 
Clara Y. Morse, under the direction of the 
International Committee and the North Chi- 
cago Association, worked indefatigably among 
the young women of the neighborhood, at 
whose request the settlement was formed. 
From the first the number attending the set- 
tlement was such as could hardly be accommo- 
dated, and at no time has the interest nagged, 
or the work ceased to develop what was hoped 
for in the community 

College women often desire to give of their 
educational advantages to their sisters less 
favored in this respect. It has proved a bless- 
ing to them in return, to recognize and appre- 
ciate the sturdy independence, self-reliance, and 
courage of the self-respecting young woman, 
who is often not only self-supporting, but w T ho 
bears the responsibility of the bread winning 
for the familv of which she is a member. 



DEPARTMENTAL WORK G9 

The college woman who takes up life seri- 
ously in such a settlement as has been described, 
acquires a knowledge of women, their lives and 
surroundings in the cities, which is of inesti- 
mable value to her in Christian work of any 
kind among young women. 

Thus the Chicago Association Settlement, 
while proving a blessing to the young women 
of the community, served in some measure to 
give practical training for Christian work to the 
students who came as residents in the settle- 
ment. Some of these were looking forward to 
the secretaryship. With the practical work of 
the settlement was combined, therefore, instruc- 
tion and training in secretarial lines. Two 
secretarial institutes were thus held there. 
Miss Elizabeth Wilson, Miss Clara Y. Morse, 
and Miss Hyatt, have in turn had charge of the 
work of the settlement, and Miss Carrie B. 
Wilson is now its head resident. 

The secretarial institutes are the latest 
endeavor made by the American Committee 
to meet the constant need of secretarial train- 
ing. That need has been felt throughout the 
national existence of the association. It is yet 
to be satisfactorily met. The inevitable lack 
of permanency in the secretaryship of this 
woman's organization gives emphasis to the 
training problem. May it be thoroughly solved 
within the next few years ! 



70 YOUNG WOMEN 

Systematic Th e neec ] f systematic Bible study in vari- 

Bible Studv. 

otis lines was felt for, and in many instances 
by, the associations. The entrance of Miss 
Laura Wild into the international secretarial 
band afforded the opportunity for investigation 
and special attention in this direction. Cor- 
respondence was carried on with the associa- 
tions to ascertain the needs in Bible study; con- 
ferences, conventions, and associations were 
visited, where short Bible courses were given, 
and much help was thus afforded during the 
years of 1897 and 1808. Miss Seevers hav- 
ing accepted a call to the association of Des 
Moines, Iowa, Miss Wild combined with her 
Bible work the editing of the Evangel. 

The student associations, from which the 
national organization had first sprung, con- 
tinued to occupy by far the larger part of the 
association field. It was important that this 
department should have undivided secretarial 
attention. Miss Simms had also been called 
into city work. Miss Price as General Secre- 
tary could not give this attention, yet she was 
held in such affectionate esteem by the students 
that the committee were united in their judg- 
ment that she was the one to take the position 
of Student Secretary. The constant call upon 
her to speak in the city associations at annual 
meetings and at state conventions, together 
with the cares of the general administration, 



DEPARTMENTAL WORK 71 

made it impossible for her to accept this office 
unless relieved of that of General Secretary of 
the International Committee. Miss Taylor 
had won the confidence of the committee by 
her administrative ability, and they felt that in 
Miss Price as Student Secretary and Miss 
Taylor as General Secretary these two most 
important positions would be well filled. Both 
Miss Price and Miss Taylor were consulted and 
their judgment coincided with that of the com- 
mittee. The changes were accordingly effected 
in May, 1898. As, however, this left the city 
department without a secretary, Miss Laura 
"Wild accepted the position in 1899, occupying 
it until her resignation from the national sec- 
retaryship in 1900. 

An associate student secretary was secured Three student 
in Miss Ruth Rouse of London, England. Miss 
Rouse had been visiting American colleges as 
Student Volunteer Secretary, and was thus 
already to a great extent familiar with the field. 
A severe illness obliged Miss Price to rest 
from all work from May, 1898, till January, 
1899. Through a generous gift at the North- 
field Conference, 1898, the committee was 
enabled to call Miss Bertha Conde to assist Miss 
Rouse, and for a few months early in 1899 
the three student secretaries worked helpfully 
together. It was with, great regret the com- 
mittee saw Miss Rouse leave the field. Xot 



Secretaries. 



72 YOUNG WOMEN 

only had she supplied the place left vacant so 
suddenly by Miss Price's illness, but she had 
endeared herself to the committee by her per- 
sonal consecration, beauty of character, and 
loyalty and ability in the work. She was urged 
to stay another year, but as a Student Volunteer 
she longed to begin her work in the foreign 
field and could not be persuaded to longer delay 
responding to her call to India. After attend- 
ing the International Convention in Milwaukee, 
1899, she sailed for London. 
American j t j s a gratifying recognition of the mutual 

Secretary in f / S . S . . . 

London help which America and Great Britain are 
Association, receiving through the association, that while 
Miss Ruth Rouse was International Student 
Secretary in America, Miss Mary McElroy of 
the Harlem (New York City) Association was 
called by the British Young Women's Christian 
Association to the secretaryship of the Central 
Institute in London, remaining for a few 
months at the close of the first World's Confer- 
ence — as long as her own Harlem Association 
would permit. The following year, 1899, Miss 
Frances Field, educational director of the same 
association (Harlem), accepted a position of 
assistant with Miss Duff in the Preparation 
(Training) Association Home in London, 
whither, after spending the summer in Amer- 
ica, she has returned for another year. 

In June, 1898, the student department of the 



DEPARTMENTAL WORK 73 

Young Women's Christian Association was 
strengthened by affiliation with the World's 
Student Christian Federation. 

During the years of 1895 and 1896, in friendly withdrawal of 

. . Canadian 

conference together, the International Commit- Associations 
tee and the Canadian Associations affiliated toform 

• -i -i /^ • -i-i -i • • Dominion 

with the Committee, agreed that the conditions G f Canada 
in Canada made it wise for that country to Association, 
organize an association of its own, separate 
from that of the United States. The Interna- 
tional Committee therefore gave a cordial con- 
sent to the withdrawal of the Canadian 
associations and the National Association of 
the Dominion of Canada was organized. 
Through its affiliation with the World's Asso- 
ciation, the friendly connection between the 
United States and Canada was preserved, and 
there is frequent intervisitation at Summer 
Conferences and Biennial Conventions. 



PROGRESSIVE STEPS AXD PRESENT CONDITION OF 
THE FIELD 

The important place held by the Biennial 
Convention in the system of the Young Women's 
Christian Association should be noted in the 
history of the organization. 

The National Committee, as in one sense 
the heart of the system, is designed to send 
forth to all parts of the field that which will 
stimulate Christian thought and action. Through 
this provision the united prayers, efforts and 
gifts of widely separated associations may be 
made not only a blessing to themselves, but a 
far-reaching good to others. Meanwhile the 
State Committees, in their respective states, 
stand as helpful associates with the National 
Committee, serving in the double function of 
arteries and veins by conveying the outgoing 
and incoming currents. 

Yet, in another and very real sense, the indi- 
vidual is the centre of the system. The young- 
woman active member is the moving spirit of 
the whole association. It is for her sake that 
association principles are what they are; for 
her all methods are arranged. The problem of 



76 YOUNG WOMEN 

her welfare is the study of the association. It 
is her voice that determines the action of the 
whole and the government of the association. 

Nowhere is this fact more fully demonstated 
than in the rules that govern the Biennial Con- 
vention and its representatives. The active 
member of every association has a voice in the 
selection of the delegates who shall represent 
her at the convention. It is to the representa- 
tives of the individual associations thus selected 
that all reports and recommendations are 
referred. The women whom they elect are 
those who shall form the National Committee, 
and it is the vote of these representatives that 
decides the policy by which the whole field 
shall be regulated during the two years which 
shall intervene before the next convention. 

This same principle underlies the govern- 
ment of the state and local associations, and 
extending in the opposite direction, applies 
with equal consistency to the government of 
the World's Association. This last is repre- 
sented at the World's Conference, not on the 
basis of national nor state, but of individual 
local associations, every five of these being 
entitled to a voting representative in the Con- 
ference. 
Seven The decisions of the Biennial Convention 
Conventions! mar k the steps of the work thus far accom- 
plished. Including the first one in 1886, there 



PROGRESSIVE STEPS 77 

have been seven of these. The convention of 
1886, held at Camp Collie, Lake Geneva, Wis- 
consin, organized scattered associations and 
those in State Associations into the National 
Association of the Young Women's Christian 
Associations of the United States. Of these 
there were one hundred and thirteen in twenty 
states. 

The six conventions following were held in 
the cities of Bloomington, Illinois, 1889 ; Scran- 
ton, Pennsylvania, 1891; Toledo, Ohio, 1893; 
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, 1895; Detroit, Michi- 
gan, 1897; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1899. 

The name of the organization was changed 
in 1889 to " International Association of the 
Young Women's Christian Associations 
of the United States and British Prov-' 
inces;" 
in 1895 to "The International Committee of 
Young Women's Christian Associa- 
tions;" 
in 1899 to " The American Committee of Young 
Women's Christian Associations." 

A paper issued in quarterly numbers for one 
year was begun in 1889, continued afterwards 
as a monthly issue under the name of the 
Evangel. 

Steady growth in number of associations and 
membership has marked each succeeding con- 
A^ention. Beginning in 1886 with one hundred 



78 YOUNG WOMEN 

and thirteen associations in twenty-one states, 
there was reported in 

1889 — 210 in 33 states and territories. 

1891 — 200 student and 42 city associations in 
31 states, with a student membership of 
7,784 and a city membership of 4,799; 
13 State Associations. 

1893 — 255 student, 52 city associations — mem- 
bership, 9,656 student; 10,067 city; 16 
State Associations. 

1895 — 280 student, 59 city associations ; student 
membership, 11,115 ; in cities, 18,341. 

1897 — 286 student, 59 city associations; stu- 
dents, 11,310; city membership, 22,147. 

1899 — 308 student associations, with member- 
ship of 16,160; 59 city associations, 
with 21,322 members; 21 State Associa- 
tions. 

The secretarial force, international, state and 
city shows as steady and in some years a more 
rapid growth in numbers. Beginning with one 
National Secretary in 1880, in — 

1889 — There are 4 state and -4 city secretaries. 
1891 — Three international, 10 state and 15 

city secretaries. 
1893 — To the 3 international, were added 3 for 

special sectional work; 7 state and -45 

city secretaries. 
1897 — Six international, 11 state and 18 city 

secretaries and 12 physical directors. 
1899 — Six International Secretaries and 3 



PROGRESSIVE STEPS 79 

special workers ; 9 state and 51 city secre- 
taries. 

The finances have been most carefully 
administered by the Committee. The increas- 
ing expenditure from year to year proves corre- 
sponding increase in the opportunities of exten- 
sion afforded. The larger gifts also bear wit- 
ness to increasing interest and confidence of 
contributors in the organization. It is cause for 
congratulation that while there was an expendi- 
ture of only $830, a sum obtained with diffi- 
culty, in the first year of the national work, the 
amount contributed and expended during the 
two years, from April, 1897, to April, 1899, 
was $27,609.93, and the sum required for 1899- 
1901 was estimated at $34,000. In the years of 
1898 and 1899 larger gifts than in any previous 
year have been received from individuals for 
the support of national secretaries. 

The one "Summer School" at Bay View, 
Michigan, 1891, has broadened into four sum- 
mer conferences — Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, in 
1892; Xorthfield, Massachusetts, in 1893; Ashe- 
ville, Xorth Carolina, first held at Rogersville, 
Tennessee, in 1895 ; Mills College recently re- 
moved to Capitola, in California. 

The Canadian associations have joined the 
association of the United States, and have 
retired from it to form the Dominion of Canada 
Association between the vears of 1888 and 1895. 



80 YOUNG WOMEN" 

The International Committee enlarged its 
membership from convention to convention, 
with increasing system in the ordering of its 
administration. In 1895 it was incorporated. 
The constitution has been amended or revised, 
to meet the needs of the advance in work. 

Alliance with strong kindred organizations 
was reported in the conventions of 1889, 
Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Mis- 
sions; 1895, the World's Young Women's Chris- 
tian Association; 1899, the World's Student 
Christian Federation. 

The features of the last convention in 1899 
were : departmental work — secretarial, student, 
city, including educational progress; girls' 
branch work and settlements ; study of state 
problems ; secretarial training ; systematic Bible 
study, and the deepening of spiritual life. 

The year 1900 finds the American Committee 
of Young Yeomen's Christian Associations with 
a constituency of four hundred and two stu- 
dent, sixty-four city, and twenty-one state asso- 
ciations. The national band of workers is a 
committee of twenty-nine members, seven 
national secretaries in charge of the depart- 
mental work; six more doing special state or 
city work. In the field are nine state and 
fifty-nine city secretaries, together with a large 
force of educational directors, physical direct- 



PRESENT CONDITION 81 

ors, directors of domestic and of art depart- 
ments, and office and assistant secretaries. 

While statistics have their place in the history 
of an organization, yet they cannot truly tell 
the whole story. Behind some of the smallest 
figures often lies a wealth of encouragement, 
and, on the other hand, what seems prosper- 
ity to the superficial observer may grieve the 
deeper insight of the spiritual worker. Try- 
ing times are the lot of all organizations. A 
history of the Young Women's Christian Asso- 
ciation would not be faithful were it to claim 
exemption from these. There have been finan- 
cial straits which have greatly discouraged the 
National Committee. There has been failure 
to execute good plans, and there have been 
mistakes in judgment among leaders and work- 
ers at headquarters and in the field. Associa- 
tions have failed to reach their high ideals, 
and some, alas ! have set their ideal too low. 
There has been weakness where there should 
have been strength, ignorance instead of 
knowledge, mistakes in the place of wisdom. 

Yet the association has proved strong enough 
to survive and to reach its present position, 
because it is grounded in Christian principles. 
The weakness and failure have drawn the 
workers together for prayer and more entire 
dependence on Him whose faithfulness has 
more than met and overcome their many fail- 



83 YOUNG WOMEN 

ures. There is much encouragement in the 
present condition of the field and its outlook 
for the future. 

Since the convention of 1899 the recom- 
mendations there adopted have been faithfully 
followed. In June the city department, which 
the resignation of Miss Laura Wild in the 
winter had left without a national secretary, 
was strengthened by three city secretaries, 
Miss Mary Dunn, Miss Elizabeth Wilson, and 
Miss Helen Barnes. With this reinforcement 
there is good prospect of solving many hith- 
erto unsolved problems. Some of the promi- 
nent city associations, which from one or 
another cause have fallen behind, and have 
need only of undivided attention to make them 
a power, are now receiving that attention. 
Meeting Social The untouched fields are being reached. One 
Problems of ^ these national city secretaries has onlv 

Women in - 

the cities, recently received an invitation from the young 
women themselves to speak to them in a factory 
of over seven hundred. The settlement in Chi- 
cago is demonstrating the solution of the same 
problem. The establishment of association 
branches in different sections of our large cities 
is another approved method of accomplish- 
ing these results. Commodious, central build- 
ings are necessary in our metropolitan cen- 
ters, and such are now owned by ten or twelve of 
the city associations, but the conditions of young 



PRESENT CONDITION 83 

women in these cities call for a somewhat differ- 
ent plan for Young- Women's Christian Associ- 
ations than that pursued by the Young Men's 
Christian Association. With the latter the 
erection of large buildings where the work is 
carried on has formed a remarkable era in its 
history. For young - women it is more to be 
desired that, with a moderately large central 
building, effort should be concentrated on the 
establishing of small association branches, 
easy of access to the young women living in 
the vicinity, in every section of the city. The 
beginnings of this plan have been made, and 
there is prospect of a report of much greater 
accomplishment at the Biennial Convention in 
1901. 

The Bible department is this year made the 
responsibility of the other departments, each 
in its own field. Always the vital principle of 
the Young Women's Christian Association, the 
importance of Bible study in the associations 
cannot be overestimated. There is manifested 
an increasing appreciation of this. A Bible 
Institute teacher speaks of the Young Men and 
Young Women Christian Association workers 
as "lovers of the English Bible and the study 
of it." Hand in hand with this is an increas- 
ing appreciation of the power of prayer. Tes- 
timonies from the Summer Conferences confirm 
this. 



-4 



YOUNG WOMEN 



Three organizations with which the American 



Strength 
Derived from 

Affiliation Committee of \ oung \\ omen s Christian Asso- 

with Student 



Volunteer 
Movement ; 



ciations is working" in close alliance, have been 
referred to incidentally, but further mention of 
them will show what strength is derived from 
this alliance. The Student Volunteer Move- 
ment for Foreign Missions is the oldest of 
these. Its beginning in 1886 has been already 
recounted. This organization is the combina- 
tion of the Young Men's and Young Women's 
Associations and the Theological Seminaries of 
the country. From year to year it has increased 
in numbers and in strength and breadth of 
service. It now stands as the medium of com- 
munication between the young men and young 
women students of the country and the Foreign 
Missionary Boards of the Evangelical Church 
of Christ. From the ranks of the Student 
Volunteers the missionary boards expect and 
receive recruits for the foreign field. Through 
alliance with this Movement the student depart- 
ment of the association is in touch with all the 
foreign missionary work of the church in this 
country. A large part of the obligation laid 
upon the student department of the association 
through this connection is to foster the study of 
missions in young women's colleges, and to 
watch for those who are called to go to the field 
as missionaries. Under the direction of the 
Student Volunteer Movement there have been 



PRESENT CONDITION 85 

in the colleges during the year 1899-1900 five 
hundred mission study classes with a member- 
ship of almost five thousand. While this num- 
ber includes men and women students, it is to 
be noted that this year four young women sec- 
retaries are engaged either for the whole or 
part of their time in college visitation for this 
direct missionary work. 

The World's Student Christian Federation is with World ' 
the outcome of the Young Men's Christian christian 
Association and the Student Volunteer Move- Federation; 
ment combined. It is to unite all Christian 
students of the world in prayer and activity 
for the winning of students to Christ in the 
first instance, the deepening of the spiritual 
life of students, and, by means of students, the 
extending of Christ's kingdom throughout the 
world. The Federation, formed in 1895 by 
the student organizations of America and Great 
Britain, Germany and Scandinavia, after two 
years' visitation of the student institutions 
of the world by John R. Mott, extended 
so rapidly as to embrace in 1899 besides these 
countries, national branches in India, Ceylon, 
Australia, South Africa, China, Japan, France, 
Switzerland and the Netherlands. 

The student department of the Young 
Women's Christian Association, through affilia- 
tion with that of the Young Men, is a part of 
this World's Student Christian Federation. 



PRESENT CONDITION 87 

While thus the world-wide missionary field 
is brought before the student department, the 
cultivation of the home field lays also a heavy 
responsibility upon it. Gathered in the Ameri- 
can Associations in educational institutions for 
young women are over twenty-one thousand 
students, but in these same institutions there 
are over forty-two thousand students. The 
social, moral and spiritual conditions in the 
women's educational institutions are calling for 
very special thought, and attention. It has 
come to be time for the General Secretary to 
be in the university as well as in the city asso- 
ciation. A beginning has been made and 
there are five of these college secretaries. 
Three college associations also own buildings. 

The students in cities pursuing special courses 
have also received attention from the student 
department, and have been drawn together 
through Metropolitan Conferences held for 
them from time to time. This branch of the 
work is as yet new, but gives promise of future 
fruit. Study of all these conditions of student 
life — visitation, correspondence and encourage- 
ment — these constitute the active service of 
the student department. 

The third organization of strength to the with the 
American Association is the World's Young Young " 
Women's Christian Association organized in ^5S.'n 
1894. At present nine national organizations Associate 



88 YOUNG WOMEN 

belong- to it, while scattered associations in 
many lands are included through the represen- 
tation of corresponding members on the World's 
Committee. Into India, Japan, China, South 
Africa and South America the Young Women's 
Christian Association has entered — India is 
already nationally organized. The student 
department is receiving special attention from 
American and British young women students, 
with Miss Ruth Rouse as student secretary for 
India. Miss Reynolds, the World's Secretary, 
is now in Japan, having accepted an invitation 
from missionaries to investigate conditions for 
the associations there, and China has sent an 
urgent call for the city association in its large 
cities. Thus again through this third organiza- 
tion the world opens its doors to the Young 
Women's Christian Association. World-wide 
days and weeks of prayer are observed now 
for this great and important work. 

The liberal decision of the American Com- 
mittee to merge their own week of prayer into 
that called for by the World's Association Com- 
mittee, in November, 1899, together with the 
recommendation to the associations to devote 
the collections of that week to the World's 
Association work, has had a definitely broad- 
ening effect upon the associations. Grat- 
itude, and appreciation of their own asso- 
ciation privileges in the home land, with an 

LofC. 



PRESENT CONDITION 89 

accompanying- sense of responsibility for foreign 
lands — these are the blessed results. 

And the Evangel, the bearer of report as to 
the condition of the field and the work of all 
these agencies, is in the hands of the depart- 
ments, to be made a messenger indeed of 
''good tidings." 

The " nine future years " into which, at the H °pesof 

^ . . • Verified. 

Scranton Convention m 1891, the International 
secretary, Miss Tarr, looked " with great 
thanksgiving by faith " were completed in 
April, 1900. That faith has been justified. 
There is in the association field ' ' earnest, active 
work, not only from a few secretaries, but from 
a large force of volunteer workers." The 
American committee, the state committees, the 
boards and committees of city associations, the 
faculty as well as students in the large student 
field, all testify to the increase of volunteer 
service. 

There has never been a time since 1891 when 
the " constant strengthening of foundation 
principles " has not been of moment, and it is 
perhaps now more than ever before 
appreciated. 

One of the quiet but most powerful agencies 
of the year 1900 has been the prayer circle 
which has assembled every Monday in the 
American Committee's office in Chicago. That 
prayer circle embraces not only those in Chi- 



00 YOUNG WOMEN 

cago — secretaries and committee members — 
but also the non-resident members of the Com- 
mittee, state chairmen, state and city secre- 
taries in this country and in other lands. Thus 
there is " more wilted prayer for the work and 
workers, a remembering that the work is not 
ours, but our Father s" 

The World's Young Women's Christian Asso- 
ciation and the World's Student Christian 
Federation have steadily won their way into the 
hearts of American association members, broad- 
ening their horizon, deepening their sense of 
obligation to young women in all lands. Three 
American young women, the two Misses Hill 
and Miss Laura Radford, have gone from the 
home association field to take up the same work 
in India, and the home field they have left is 
supporting them in their work among India's 
young women. Out from association ranks in 
America also have gone missionaries under the 
boards of the various churches. Every mem- 
ber thus putting her life and service in lands 
dark from the lack of Christ's gospel has 
enlightened the minds and deepened the 
interest of her association at home and made 
more "steadfast " the "faith that God will use 
our faithfulness to glorify His name among the 
young women of the world." 
The The future of 1891 is the present of to-day. 
Future. To _d a y a i so ^ as j ts future. There lies before 



THE FUTURE 91 

the Young Women's Christian Association a 
field of opportunity as yet but lightly touched 
here and there upon the surface. Its area 
in the United States alone is increasing every 
year. What shall be said as to responsi- 
bilities to be met shortly in Hawaii, Cuba, 
the Philippines ? Commerce and education 
have so influenced the condition of young 
women in China, Japan, India, South Africa 
and other lands, that their needs are found to 
be startlingly similar to those of young women 
in our own country. The factory, the business 
office, the student hall in these lands, as in 
ours, call for the association. Their appeal to 
America to help them can be met through the 
door of the World's Association, that door of 
opportunity opened to us within the past nine 
years. 

Shall the field be occupied? If so, there 
must be advance. Larger gifts of money to 
support workers in the field; secretaryships 
endowed by Christian women and men from 
the wealth entrusted to their stewardship; a 
much larger force of secretaries ; larger provi- 
sion for training workers ; well-equipped train- 
ing schools for this purpose ; a large number of 
wise and prayerful women consecrating them- 
selves to the volunteer work of administration. 
Most needed of all, a continually increasing 
force of young women whose consecrated lives 



92 YOUNG WOMEN 

are offered for this work wherever the Lord 
calls, at home or in mission fields abroad. 

Should this advance be made within the 
next decade, the dawn would indeed be bright 
of the Silver Jubilee of the American Young 
Women's Christian Association in 1911. 



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